Gathering head for combines



Feb, 16, 1954 R. l.. ANDERSON GATHERING HEAD FOR COMBINES Filed Dec. 7, 1950 s sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

, ZRLAndemo/z Feb. 16, 1954 R L ANDERSON 2,669,082

GATHERING HEAD FOR COMBINES Filed Deo. 7, 195o 's sheets-sheet 2 i 1m wi 16 r, g 7.a

Fly. .5- JNVENToR. Ill/.Anders f 'Til A Honig/.s

R. l.. ANDERSON 2,669,082

GATHERING HEAD FOR COMBINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 16, 1954 Filed Dec. 7, 1950 azz' INVENTOR. flhAnder-son Aiiorne .s

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Patented Feb. 16, 1954 GATHERING HEAD FOR COMBINES Ralph L. Anderson, East Moline, Ill., assignor to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 7, 1950, Serial No. 199,683

6 Claims. (Cl. 56-185 This invention relates to a harvester and more particularly to an improved platform and harvester reel construction.

The invention contemplates primarily improvements in harvesting machines of the combine type, in which conventional designs include a longitudinal, relatively narrow mobile body 4ahead of which is disposed an elongated transverse platform having means for gathering crops and for conveying the crops to a feed ropening in front of a feeder house which leads `to threshing and separating mechanism Within the longitudinal body. According to the present invention, conventional structure and design are departed from in that the ends of the platform are provided with longitudinal upright end Walls sov shaped as to increase the width of the platform as measured across its upperportion, these end walls serving further as grain dividers` and also as means for carrying a rotatablevreel, The invention'also contemplates improvements in the relationship between the reel and the platform, the design of the end wall at one end being such as to accommodate a novel driving mechanism for the reel. External portions of this end wall also provide shield structure for driving means external of the platform for driving the platform conveyor and cutting mechanism. Y

Still further objects of the invention relate to improved means for adjustable mounting of the reel and a novel reel construction in which the components are simply and economically constructed and assembled.

p The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features inherent in and encom passed by the invention will become apparent as the disclosure of a preferred embodiment of the invention is made in the following detailed description and accompanying sheets of drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective View showing the forward and right-hand side of the harvester; Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view taken from the rear and the left side of the.

harvester;

. Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the forward portion of the harvester;

Figure 4 is an enlarged front view, partly in section, of the harvester reel construction, intermediate portionsof the structure being broken away to shorten the View, the sectional portion of the figure being taken along the line 4'-4 of Figure 3;

Figures 5 and 6 are respectively sectional views Cil 2 representing sections taken along the lines 5 5 and 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view with parts broken away and shown in section showing the mounting of one of the hub `assemblies on the reel shaft;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the preferred form of strips of compressible material utilized in securing the hub assembly to the reel shaft; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen along the line 9--9 of Figure e.

The harvester will first be described generally and briefly for the purposes of orientation. It comprises alongitudinal body i0 carried between its front and rear ends von a transverse axle i2 on which are journaled rightand left-hand wheels ld and i6. i Reference to the machine as having rightand left-hand sides is made here with respect to the position of an observer standing behind 'the machine and looking forwardly.

The forward part of the body I il is in the form of a rearwardly and upwardly inclined feeder house I3 communicating at its forward end with one side of an elongated transverse platform designated generally by the numeral 2i). This platform has a floor 22 and rightand left-hand end walls 24 and 25 between which is journaled a rotatable reel 2B which operates in conjunction with a conventional cutter bar 30 for harvesting grain and for moving the grain rearwardlyto the floor 22. This floor serves as part of a trough in which operates a conveyor inthe form of an auger 32. Since the platform 2i! is considerably wider than the feeder house 4I3, the auger 32 serves to move grain lengthwise from right to left on the platform to the feeder house for ultimate transfer of the grain upwardly and rearwardly through the feeder house via a conveyor 34 to threshing and separating mechanism contained within the body IIB. Such mechanism has not been shown, since it is not material tov the :present invention. Reference is made thereto merely for the purpose of com' pleting the explanation of the functional char acteristics of the machine as a whole.

As bestsuggested in Figure 3, the floor 22 of the platform 20 is shaped, as at 36, to form a trough in which the auger 32 operates. This trough is at-itsleft-hand end -in communication with the `forward end of the feeder house i8 and the conveyor 34-operates in this zone to take grain from the auger 32 and to convey it rearwardly to the threshing mechanism (not shown) in the body H3. The feeder house has opposite suitable source, such as an internal combustiom engine (not shown) contained within a housing portion 58 of the body I8.

The machine shown hereisofthe.typeiadapted4 to be drawn by a tractorf-andiforithat punposeiY a is equipped with a forwardly extending draft tongue 58. The several features disclosed .herein, however, are useful in other' types ofihar;

vesters such as those of the self-propelled.type;v

The platform 20 is delineated at opposite ends A by right.- and left-hand endportionst. and 62. From these respectively rise.the.end`walls 24and 2.6.. Eachof these end. wallsisofnoveLdesign andghas specialfcharacteristicsin relationtonther components. ofthe harvesting mechanism, .as .will he descrbed'in detailbelow. The platformlia's .a rearwall. made. upv of. adjoining, and. angular-ly relatedltransverse portions 63' and 85, the latter continuing, downwardly and y. forwardly into the trough 36';`

The end.wall.26` (Figures. 2, 3, 5 and 6) has a lower portionl' that is arranged in. a longitudinalupri'ght. plane.. Asseen. in Figure 3, the portion-.Miisin the form of 'anelongated triangle. tapering upwardly to. ajunction. at 65 with the topedgeof lthe feeder houseside walll48`. The end .walll 23" is of sheet .metall construction, ,preferably. formedin one pieca This walllis shaped so that4 it hasa second. triangular portion. 68 that. incli'nes upwardlyl andi outwardly from .its junction with'. the lower portion.. 64; In. other words, ,the portion.. 881 is .offset outwardly vrelative to.: the portion 641. The wall continues upwardly and'slightly outwardly as a.third triangular portion. thus completing the offset: relative to theportion 642 The wall then continues .straight upwardly as an. upper portion 12; As bestvseen in.Figures 5 and 6,1 the oiset between the pore tions 64 and 12m provides a rearwardly'and 11pwardly inclined trough 14; The forward; edge of the wall portion 12 is arcuate (Figure 3)` and i's beaded at 16'to add rigidity'. As best seen in Figure' 3'," the trough14runs generally along Vthe line .of the. topV edge` ofjthexleft-handwall 40 of the feeder house |8L. The. purpose of this arrangement will. be. brought out. presently.

The opposite..end.wall.2.4.is constructed symmetrically. as respects.. the` wal1.26.. `Since the components,fofthe. wall 24 .substantially duplicate ,those-of.A the wall 26;.detailed descriptionof the former rnayfbefomitted;` Because .of the-laterally outwardly directed offset inthefupper. portions of` thewalls. 24- and126;,the dimension between these walls` int4 considerably #greater than that tbetween theiend: portions 68 and` 62. ofzxthe"plat=l form. This'enablesfthefuseof' af reel of cornl mensurate width to. operate Aefficientlyy over the cutter-'bar assembly 38;" According to the present invention,y thef reel` is journaled at'v opposite' Aends betweenY the-endY walls; rather than on addition'- al supportssuch as have heretofore'been known. Further, the' end walls 2'4and` 26 areiimperforatel (with exceptions5 to be hereinafternoted) and becauseA of" their arcuate shape: serve as dividers.

without the necessity of additional dividers such as those conventionally provided.

The reel construction is best shown in Figure 4, wherein it will be seen that the reel comprises a central tubular shaft or pipe 18 journaled at opposite ends by means of brackets and 82. Since the construction at opposite ends is identical, only the'- left-hand-` bracket will be' described. The brackets.` are. mountedl respectively on. the inner faces of the end walls 24 and 26.A

The mounting of the left-hand end of the reel shaft 18 on the bracket 82 is accomplished b'yfmea-nsof abearing assembly 84 comprising a cup-shaped capz. having an external annular ange.v closelyttted over the end of the reel shaft 18. The-cap further has a radial flange 80 in which is formed a circular aperture 92 coaxialwith'the'reel shaft 18. Integral with the radial.Y flange 88 is a circular or annular flange 84 which surrounds the aperture 82 and in which is carried anantiffriction vbearing 9.6. This bearing carries astubshaft 88 that. is coaxiaLwith the reel shaft'18. An upper. portion of the bracket 82. is apertured at Hlfto` receivethe. outer end of the. stub.. shaft S85. The stubshaftisrigidly se.- curedto thebracket 82. by means ofinner. and outer washers.. |82 and., |84? and a. nut |06.. The cap 8.6' issecuredto the, end ofv thereelshaft18 by, a sleeve |081 of' flexible,.torsionally. yieldable materal,.preferably comprising a..shortl length of` fabric-impregnated'. rubber hose.. stock. The length of vvthe. sleeve slightly. exceeds that of.l the harigev 88 on the. cap. 8'5', sothat the. sleevesur.- rounds. this ange and also surrounds anadjacent portionof.the-reel',shaft 18.. The con.- nection iscompleted. by, appair.. of. embracing'. or circularI clamps4 lll)U and. |12'. The.. clampk H8 embraces that. portionof the. sleeve.. |08 that surrounds., the. annular.. flange 88.. and' the other clamp' embraces that.v portion.. of the.. sleeve that surrounds the adjacent portionofthereelshaft 18.

The opposite, endlof thereel shaft 18' is carried in a similar manner, a bearing assembly ll4'being connectedto this end ofthe reel. shaft by a flexible sleeve il B andla pair of .clamps |18 and |20. Thev connections at. |88. and.' HB" provide not: only simple connectionsbut alsov establish means Dermittinglimited relative angular movement between the reel shaft and end cap.

The.` construction of the bracket v'532' may be seen best in Figure 9. This bracket has a pair ofjapertures` |22'and'. |24, the latter being in the form of an arcuate slot formedabout .the former as a center. The upperportion 12 of the end wall 26 isprovided with a plurality of openings |26. These openings arearrangedin vertical rows and the openingsin each ,row are spacedy apart vertically on the order of"thespacingbetween the aperture |22"an'd the' slot |24'in 'thebra'cket `872. The for'eeandaft spacing between ladjacent rows of. openings is determined ron the basis of 'the altitude of an equilateral triangle including' a pair of openings in one row Vandthe proximate opening in. anv adjacent row.' 'Stated'Qtl'ierwi"se,-v

the openings in one row are vertically st'aggereti relative. to those. in an-.adjacent row so that the' aforesaid results willobtain. This arrangement may. be better understood. by considering'three openings identi'ed by C, D and'E in Figure. 9. 'I'lfieA openings. C "and'D areadjacent in onerow andthe vertically staggered opening Eis the closest opening.. in an adjacent row. The .dis-

tance C-D is equal to the distance 4C.-E or.

plurality of openings |32 being visible in Figure 1,

as are a pair of bolts |34 and |36 for securing the bracket 80 to that end wall.

A further feature of the reel construction inl volves the mounting of a plurality of hub assemblies |38, ||i and |42 on the reel shaft 18. Since all of these assemblies are identical, only the assembly |42 will be described.

This assembly comprises a pair of plates |44 and |46 vcentrally apertured respectively at |48 and |50 so that the reel shaft or pipe 16 .may be passed therethrough. The aperture |48 in the plate |44 is surrounded by a bell mouth portion |52, and a similar bell mouth portion |54 is provided on the plate |46 about the aperture |50. When the two plates are assembled as in Figure '7, the opposing bell mouths form an annular channel |56 within which is deformed a band or ring of resilient deformable material, which may initially be in the form of a strip |58 of rubber or the like. The section of the strip |58 is slightly larger than that of the channel |55, so that when the plates are drawn together, as by a plurality of bolts |60, the material ofv the `strip |58 is compressed, forming a resilient or yieldable union between the reel pipe 18 and the plates |44 and |46. The drive connection thus established is suicient in normal operation to veffect rotation` of the hub assembly |42 with the reel pipe or shaft 18. The same construction is carried out in the hub assemblies |38 and |40, and the same functional characteristics follow.

The hub assembly |36 carries a plurality of radially outwardly extending spokes |62.

tively with similar spokes |64 and |66. The outer ends of the spokes support a plurality of bats |68 that parallel the reel shaft 18. The reel is, at least in appearance, of conventional design.4

' It is a characteristic of the reel construction forming a part of this invention that it is driven in a unique manner. Partv of this construction includes a relatively large sheave ring that is coaxial `with but structurally independent of the reel shaft 18. This sheave ring is provided at angularly spaced points on the order ofthe angular spacing of the spokes |66 with mounting means in the form of brackets |12 by means of which the ring is xed to the spokes |66. As best shown in Figure 5, the sheave ring 10 is closelyproximate to the inner face of the end wall 26. As a matter of fact, the sheave ring is disposed substantially in the longitudinal upright plane of the groove 14. At the same time, the ring is laterally outwardly of and 'above the end portion 62 of the platform 20. This 'con struction enables the proper and most desirable location of the sheave ring without extending the reel shaft through the end Wall.

best seen in Figure 3, the feeder house |0 carriesv just rearwardly of the junction 'of the end wall 26- and the feeder house a transverse shaft- |'14'on which iskeyed a double sheave |16. This sheave comprises vrst and second annular The ,1 hub assemblies and |42 are provided respec grooves |18 and |80 (Figures 5 and 6). The groove |18 is in fore-and-aft alinement with the sheave ring |10 and is therefore rearwardly of and in alinement with the trough 14. 'I'he outer groove is rearwardly of the trough 14 and is in vertical alinement with a third sheave |82 on the shaft 54 for the lower end of the feeder house conveyor 34. This third sheave is outside the side wall 40 of the feeder house' and is likewise outside of the end Wall 26. Stated otherwise, the sheave |82 is rearwardly of and below the trough or offset portion 14. An endless belt |84 is trained about the sheave ring |10, over the double sheave |16, and about the sheave |82. The direction of rotation of the reel 28 is indicated in Figure 3 by the arrow F. 'I'he lower run of the belt |84, designated at |86, that extends between the bottom of the sheave ring |10 and the top of the outer groove |80 of the double sheave |16 generally parallels or follows the offset or groove 14. The run |86 continues about the groove |80 and constitutes an upper run |88 between the sheave groove I 80 and the sheave |82. The belt returns from the sheave |82 to the sheave ring |10 via the inner sheave groove |18 of the double sheave |16. Thus, the direction of movement of the conveyor 34 as indicated by the arrow A is consonant with the rotation of the reel 28 as indicated by the arrow F.

in viewl of the offset at 14 in the end wall 26, the end wall is shaped in such manner as to serve substantially as a shield for the driving mechanism outside the end wall 26 and feeder house side wall 40, at least to the extent that the belt portions between the sheaves |16 and |82 may be said to be protected from the front by thev offset in the end wall 26. Other portions of the driving mechanism may be said to be similarly protected by this oifset. In addition to the sheave |82, the shaft 54 hasfxed thereto outside the feeder house left-handside wall 40, a sprocket |90 about which is trained a driving chain |92. This chain is also trained about a smaller sprocket |94 (Figure 2) keyed to the outer end of a shaft |96 on which the platform auger 32 is carried. The opposite end of the auger shaft is visible in Figure 1, ,wherein there is also visible at |91 a bearing in the end portion 60 of the platform for carrying this end of the auger shaft. A similar bearing, not visible, is provided at the left-hand end of the platform. As best seen in Figure 6, the sprocket |90 is located behind and below the outside of the offset or trough 14 of the end Iwall 26.

The auger shaft |96 at the left-hand end of the platform and outside the end wall 26 has means for driving a knife |98 for'the cutter bar 30. The specific driving means is not material here. That shown is of the type. illustrated in the patent to Paradise 2,297,317. Briefly, the mechanism includes a circular wobble member 280 for oscillating a shaft 202 by means of a yoke 204. An arm 206 connected to the bottom of the shaft 262 eecte reciprocation of the knife The cutter bar assembly 30, as is conventional, may include a rigid bar, here in the form of an angle 208 which projects at opposite ends beyond the end walls 24 and 26. Braces 2|0 and 232 are provided respectively at the rightand left-hand ends of the platform for bracing the end walls 24 and 26. i

.r Inasmuch as adjusting of the position of the reel 26 lby means of the brackets 80 and 82 will aifect the length of the beltl |84, provision is;

made for adjusting; their double sheaver` |18.; Eorf this purpose; `the:shaft: |142 is .carried cin-.ra bracket: and-.bearing'member M4 secured: by bolts 21-6': toi thetop ofi the-feeder'rhouse' 1&1. The bracket: hasiralongitudinal slot 218.l (Figure: l) forpermittingthe necessary adjustment of1 the bracket; relative to the feeder. houseto accommodate changes .inlength of the. belt i3d..

For thepurposes: of.. claricationothe clisolosure, attention should vlcerdre'cted. to the fact that; the mounting f or: the yreel showni ini le'igures @and 9 includes the parts-in: positionsY different from those'- appearinginFigures' 1 andf- 2. This will. illustrate. theV versatility. ofv the mounting meanszifor carryingthe reel in .any one offseveral positions.

Various features-.oa the invention notspecifi-y oally: enumerated` herein*v will: undoubtedlyk occur: towthose versed. in', theV` art, as likewise willA numerous modiiicationsand alterations in the vpref ferredneinbodimentl of the invention disclosed, .all offwhich may be' accomplished without depart-.d ingfromthe spiritand scopeaof` the inventionasf defined intheappendedclaims;

l`. In a harvester having a longitudinal body; harvesting mechanism comprising-z afiplatform floor `disposed ahead of aand across the front lend: of thel body; a'. conveyor-housing: extending rear"le wardly from theplatformstoithe body andfh'aving an upright. longitudinaliside wall adjoining the iloor;` saidl side `wall havingy arr'upwardly!- and' rearwardlyincliiied top edge; an upright; l`ongitudinalv end Vwall fixed' to'` the floorr and; having l a'N lower 'portion in the plane 'for saidf side' wall* andC a laterally outwardly offset upper portion: out! side/said plane, said upperfand lower.' portions beingjjoined alongfan. offset portion Storming a forwardly and downwardly; extending.' continu:f= ation-of saidsidefiwall top' edge;` ay harvester freeli `above `theii'oor and closely inwardlyf oii'said iendf wall: andacarried. by said 'end-l wallf ffon rotationl aboutira transverse .horizontal artisL above the oil=- setbetween said upper and lower` end 'wall poi-VA tions; a Vrelatively 'large sheavenonv the reel closely proximate'ftovand inwardly ofsaid upper por# tion; of the' end= wall?. and"4 above f' and` -vertically alinedswith said'noifset; a `doublesheave'ro' tatablyy carried1h57.-the conveyor; housing-at af portion" of.` said-.side fwallf. top edge .rearwardly of said..,end.wall andincluding-frstiand' secondfpare allel grooves 1 inzfupright, .longitudinal planes` re-Y spectively' inwardly and -soutwardly of saidoffset portion; a third slieaveibelow'thedoublei-sheave and .locatedfoutside :said side"l wall and! rearwardly ofesaidofset portion off the end wallf andouts side` said i end wall'. so that said offset' portion` inii clinesi fltearwardlvl over` said" single. sheave and:` separatf-:s'thev reel sheave from saidthirdlsheave, and an" endless nbelt' trainedf about the reel". and*i third:.sheavesgzandxlooped overfthe:y double; sheaveA so that-the belt between the doubleisheave randthen-eel sheave is' inside the; end'. wall andi-above.; and f ahead 1 of .said f. offset portiomy and .the beltv between said double sheave and the third sheave. isoutside. the endv wall andnbelow:y andaibehind said ofsetportion..A .l f.

. 2.-'-lhe:invention defined.; inlv claim ,1,1 in .whichr conveyingmeans is -carriedbyv the `platforn'r.and..vv includes ia" drive member proj ectingY outwardly -a through. the. end wall: below `andvbeliind saidxoi set portion; and a drive connection/isr-elected; between .said third!-` sheave:l and 1. said drivermeinber -1outsidefsaid :endrwall 1 andlbelow andfbehind.

saidoiset:l portion.V l 1" 3; Im at; bemesten having: .a vlongitudinal"i body, harvestingV4 mechanism. comprising: a. platform liocrf` disposed ahead. of; and transversely to:` the` bodyb andf. including; transversely spaced@ apart opposite:= enctl portions; andi an upright. rear4 wall: as. pairruofr longitudinal; uprightr end walls fixed respectivelyxto thea-floor end portions andzjoined' tozand extendingfforwardly from. there-ar4 wall; earch,y end wall having. a lower portionextendingl upwardly," and thenv outwardly; and" an' adjoining upper' portion; continuingV upwardly to; am upper edgegenerallyat thez-levelofzthetw of the.: rear'. wall, said'lower. andupperportionsvadjoining to; form a trough thatzis; laterally outwardlyxof the proximate. end. portion. of the"platformv `floor. and that inclines rearwardlyvandupwardlyffromr. at lower iorwardendrelatively;l close. to the: platiform vdoor to'zarear upperendaleading.; over the top of said rear wall;r a-.harvesterxreel carriedzat its opposite tends,A byI the. .endrwall upper portions above.; andf parallel: to .athe platformxfloorlfor rox-l tationreaboutfaniaxisfaboversaid troughasaid reel: having at one.: enda thereof 'I and yclosely inwardly..` of: the` proximate: Yendxwall. a"- coaxial;y relatively` large circulan sheave: in verticalA alinement. with the 1 trough of 1 such;.diameter 'asf to; .closely cleanl the. forward end l of' the` trough; a 'double-f sheave rotatably 1 supported .rearwardly oi l'thefreariv wall4 and in. foreandfaftvv alin'ementi with -thefrear end:

" of .f sa-idttrough; a-Lthird sheave-rotatably supeY portedf rearwardly, and outside off' said trough; andas .an 'f endless belt trained aboutA the f large. sheave; overctl'le-V double sl'ieaveaandv aboutrthe. third: sheava-withfthei lower-.runl thereof bet-f tweenftheT bottom.. of :the largefsheave. andthe toprof the .double i sheavef running` upwardly and rearwardlyyinrsaidtrough;

.4.- In ahanvester: having' a longitudinal; body;

harvesting: mechanismz-comprising: a, platform.

f door .disposed aheadflzofrfa-nd transverselmito: the'.

body and .includingtransversely spaced apartanv posite i .end':.portions and: an4 uprightv i rear wall; a-A pair of.,longitudina^l; .uprightendwalls xe'd rei.r spectively. to thezoorend portionsrandjoinedto e andiextendingiforwardly from therearewalhieach en'd. wall; having: awlower portion extending upf Wardlyi-and then:y outwardly-and? an. .adjoining upper *portions continuing.gupwardlul to 'an' upper; edgefgen'erally. at thexlevel-v of .the-topf of therein:

wall said .lower and; upper portions: adjoining g to. formaftroughthat `is laterally; outwardly of the proximate zend; portionzof the Vplatform iioorfandr tl'iatg'-` inclines rearwardlyaand:upwardly.=;frorn ai lower forwardfendrelatively closetoiltheplatform: iicor'tegaffrearsupper .endileading overi thefftop` of? saidirearf wall a harvester .reel carried atits Opz--A positefends lby 'the endiwallzupper; portionsY above; and: parallelfto `the platform.` floor' for-f rotations; about an: axis above'zsaid-trough, .said .'reelhavingf:

, atl one; endiA thereof! and closelyginwardlyf of the;y

proximatefend wall. a@ coaxial `relatively 1 large cir1 cular sheave iny vertical alinement'with-the troughs of isuch; diameter as. to closely-clear the forward; end offthetrough; asma-11er; sheaverotatably'supi-l ported v.remtwardly offtthe rear'. wall .andv fore'-l and-aft '.,alinement1- :withrthe rearend of. saidatrough; iandfanendlessbe'lt trained' aboutv the". large*` sheave'r and z .over r ther smallert isheave.;y with. the.y lower. run.; thereof-frunning: upwardly` andi. rearwardly in said:troug-hi.` Y'

l 5. In: at harvester: .havinga-longitudinahbodm harvesting; mechanismv4 comprising: ai platform. floorvdisposed ahead of-land acrossitheefront'end. ofi the; body; a; i;conveyora-liousing` extending 1, rear wardlxrtromf-.theaplatfonmtdthefbody andsliaving;

an upright, longitudinal side wall adjoining the iioor; an upright, longitudinal end wall fixed to the oor, including a lower portion adjoining the door and lying in the plane of the side wall and an upper portion adjoining said lower portion above the floor and offset laterally outwardly of said lower portion to lie outside of and parallel to said plane; a harvester reel above the oor and closely inwardly of said end wall and carried by said end wall for rotation about a transverse horizontal axis above the olset between said upper and lower end wall portions; a relatively large sheave on the reel closely proximate to and inwardly of said upper portion of the end wall and above and vertically alined with said offset; a relatively smaller sheave rotatably carried by the conveyor housing outside the plane of said side wall and rearwardly of said end wall and behind and in fore-and-aft alinement with said offset; and an endless belt trained over said sheaves, with the lower run thereof inwardly of said upper portion of the end and above said offset.

6. In a harvester having a longitudinal body, harvesting mechanism comprising: a platform iloor disposed ahead of and across the front end of the body; a conveyor housing extending rearwardly from the platform to the body and having an upright, longitudinal side wall adjoining the oor; said side wall having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined top edge; an upright, longitudinal end wall xed to the i-loor and having a lower portion in the plane of said side wall and a laterally outwardly oset upper portion outside said plane, said upper and lower portions being joined along an offset portion forming a forwardly and downwardly extending continuation of said side wall top edge; `a harvester reel above the oor and l0 closely inwardly of said end wall and carried by said end wall for rotation about a transverse horizontal axis above the offset between said upper and lower end wall portions; a relatively large sheave on the reel closely proximate to and inwardly of said upper portion of the end wall and above and vertically alined with said olset; a relatively smaller sheave rotatably carried by the conveyor housing at a portion of the top edge of said side wall rearwardly of the end wall and outside the plane of said side wall and in foreand-aft alinement with the oiset; and an endless belt trained about said sheaves, with the lower run thereof inclining upwardly and rearwardly from the bottom of the large sheave and following along the inside and above said oiset portion to the smaller sheave.

RALPH L. ANDERSON.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 464,795 Dodge Dec. 8, 1891 732,994 Appleby July 7, 1903 972,321 Beckett et al. Oct. 11, 1910 1,328,983 Coates Jan. 27, 1920 1,411,433 Higgins Apr; 4, 1922 1,871,861 Rossman Aug. 16, 1932 2,071,627 Hawn Feb. 23, 1937 2,106,737 Haire Feb. 1, 1938 2,345,847 Wink Apr. 4, 1944 2,395,672 Kranick et al. Feb. 26, 1946 2,417,467 Bryant, Jr Mar. 18, 1947 2,470,704 Korsmo et al May 17, 1949 2,554,195 Jones May 22, 1951 

